Joshua Buatsi v Renold Quinlan

Joshua Buatsi will feature v former IBO world super middleweight champion Renold Quinlan on Matchroom’s December 22nd box office show at the O2 London.

Australian Quinlan is no stranger to these shores, and will be most familiar to you because of his ten round TKO loss to Chris Eubank jnr in 2017. The 29 year old Quinlan has only logged a 12-3 record to date, but has mixed in decent company and has competed in a number of scheduled ten round contests.

The IBO world title he brought over to defend v Eubank Jnr had previously been won in his career best victory – an upset over former IBF world middleweight champion and fellow countryman Daniel Geale. Earlier this year, Quinlan, the self styled ‘Dunghutti Destroyer’, had come off second best in a thriller. With ex-amateur stand out Damien Hooper, Quinlan eventually went down in nine rounds but not before giving Hooper a real scare.

It’s fair to say that this announcement will be considered a disappointment. Mainly because of Eddie Hearn’s declaration that Buatsi is ‘the best prospect in world boxing’. As a ninth professional bout, and at short notice, Quinlan is a reasonable progression. He offers ambition and durability at the very least.

The fight will be the second defence of the WBA international light heavyweight title for Buatsi and be contested over ten rounds. It’s now the fifth scheduled bout set for December 22nd, which is to be headlined by an exciting rematch of British heavyweights. ’The bodysnatcher’ Dillian Whyte will face off v his fierce rival the table throwing Dereck Chisora.

Solid title action comes in support with Charlie Edwards’ challenge for the WBC world flyweight title v Cristofer Rosales, and the vacant British featherweight title fight between Norfolk’s Ryan Walsh and Watford’s Reece Bellotti. Further down the bill comes the heavyweight attraction and sky PPV staple David Price, dropping down in levels to take on Hatfield’s tough Tom Little.

Sky Sports Box Office televise in the UK, and DAZN in the US. On a night when BT Sport and Sky go head to head for the first time in box office sporting events.